We sat down with Hampstead Hill School's headteacher, Anne Napier, to discuss why she believes that drama is crucial in the early years.
With almost 30 years in education, Anne has witnessed how drama has taught children a range of invaluable skills, including listening, speech, empathy and respect.
Interested in incorporating drama into your school? Check out our Perform for Schools program, which includes our educational Explorer Workshops and free Drama4ALL sessions.
Why do you think drama is beneficial for children?
Drama fits so closely with how children learn. They explore the world through play and imagination, so drama integrates well into that learning process.
When children make up stories, it helps them make sense of their relationships and emotions and supports deeper engagement.
A drama-based approach to learning - a lot of ours is done through role play and storytelling in the classroom - supports both learning and wellbeing, rather than separating them, which, for me, is particularly important in the early years.
Many families choose to access drama through extracurricular activities such as school clubs or experiences beyond the classroom and we welcome this as part of a broader, balanced educational experience.
What life skills do you think children gain through drama that they'll bring with them into adulthood and the workplace?
Listening carefully to one another, taking turns and learning how to work together.
I think children engaged in drama also have a better way of looking at ideas from different perspectives. This builds empathy, which is particularly important in today's world.
There's also a lot of problem-solving involved in drama, as well as negotiating and adapting ideas and I think all of that builds confidence, which is so important.
Self-belief and confidence are essential throughout life. Drama helps children develop the courage to speak up, share their thoughts and stand up for what is not right.
From the moment children begin role-playing in drama, they have the opportunity to practise all these skills.
Do you notice any changes in children's engagement in class when drama is integrated into their learning?
I think children who are involved in drama and have had it as part of their learning are definitely more focused and engaged.
There's also more participation in class and less apprehension about making mistakes.
I've seen this particularly in children who have had fewer opportunities to explore mistakes through imaginative or role-play-based learning, as they can become more hesitant to participate for fear of getting something wrong.
Drama gives children the confidence to join in and not to worry about whether something is exactly right or wrong.
Do you think drama supports speech and communication skills in young children?
Definitely. In drama, children are more motivated to communicate.
They are exposed to a wider vocabulary and different ways of speaking. It's also a really low-pressure environment for children to express themselves.
How does drama support confidence in children who may not have the language to explain how they feel or who have different individual needs?
Drama is very inclusive.
Whether it's through movement, body language, facial expressions or speech, drama can be adapted for all needs.
Children also learn to recognise and respect differences in one another. And to me, that's one of the most important aspects, as it helps them to better understand each other.
As important as drama is in the early years, how do you see it benefiting children throughout the rest of their education?
As children get older, they sometimes become conscious about sharing their point of view, often questioning whether their ideas will be accepted by their peers.
Providing opportunities to role-play and improvise, which we do across a number of our PSHE topics, is really important.
Role play feels less personal, which allows children to explore their thoughts and views without creating stress or fear.
Drama allows children to explore more complex ideas and creates space for open dialogue about backgrounds and cultures, supporting learning that is rooted in understanding and respect.
